Oh my word, I can’t tell you just how excited I have been to share this magical Italian experience. I will remember it for the rest of my life. Without a doubt. Back in May I headed to Italy to photograph two gorgeous Italian weddings. I had exactly one week between each of the weddings. I wanted to travel. I kept dismissing the idea. Thinking “I am too busy to make the plans”, “I’ll be on my own”, “I won’t know how to get around” etc etc. Huge, huge thanks to my lovely Mark who helped plan the trip. He did a great job. So, it all started at Salerno Ferry port. It was at this point where my sweaty hand clutched on to my ferry ticket that I thought “how hard can it be, really?” I hopped on board and instantly felt relaxed. After arriving in Amalfi, I had a wander around the town, checked into my airbnb and strolled to my Limoncello making class! of course I had to go to a class! It was so insightful, I met some great people and really enjoyed it. During the evening I dined alone. Something I would become used to over the coming days. In all the hustle and bustle it felt so blissfully quiet.
In the morning I walked down to the sea and hopped into a kayak, I kayaked 5 miles from Amalfi to Maiori. The crystal clear waters were glistening so perfectly. That afternoon I awaited at the bus stop. I thought the queue was ridiculously long, I wondered how on earth I would get on. I did…just. I felt like a grain of sand squeezing through the tight centre of an hourglass. Up and up into the mountains the bus swayed. Bomerano, I had arrived. It felt much colder up in the mountains. I had packed everything into one small 35 litre ruck sack, of course I had too few warm clothes! The next day I was planning to hike. My clothes needed hand washing. I wanted them to dry on the balcony, I was worried about them blowing off so I used the complimentary shower cap, rolled it very tightly to make it into a thin string, threaded it through the label on my clothes so I could tie it to the balcony. All of this effort was of course wasted as the heavens opened and the clothes were more wet than before I started!
I set off on the “Path Of The Gods” towards Positano. It has been hammering it down. I wore a poncho that the man from the airbnb gave me. It was so thin though and ripped straight away, I had to just embrace the rain. With rain came the most quiet footpaths. So quiet, peaceful. The flowers were so fragrant and the air was so fresh. After about 8 miles of walking I stopped for lunch. I felt so so lucky to be enjoying this opportunity.
After an evening in Positano enjoying lovely wine and lots of pasta I walked the 850 steps (no I am not joking) down to the sea and awaited yet another ferry. This time I was headed to Capri. An island that belongs in glossy travel magazines and romantic books but for that day my feet were going to land on the lovely island. I have never walked so much in my life. I have actually when doing Everest Base Camp but I forgot the pain of that! now I was sweating up so many steps I lost count. I only had 36 hours in Capri and so I wanted to make the most of every minute. First stop, a trip up Monte Solaro. I felt a bit emotional at the top, I won’t lie. I am unsure why. I guess it was a sense of the solo adventure, missing my dad who passed two years ago, the swirling yet silet birds beneath me, the turquoise water so full of promise and beauty.
I then walked to Grotta Azzurra, I was trying to rubber neck my head around the corner of the rock to see inside of the cave. I couldn’t see anything. I really wanted to look inside. At that moment a boat pulled up with a lovely couple on it. They jumped off the boat and swam into the cave. I awaited for their return full of excitement. “How was it!?” I asked. They told me to go inside. I said “I can’t, I have no swimming stuff, who will look after my bag?” they said “you only live once, we will look after your bag” I thought to myself “what on earth are you doing Chelsea?” But I thought, yes. Life is for living. So I stripped down to my underwear (not something I normally do haha) and swam into the cave. This was probably the highlight of my trip. Magical, breathtaking. I don’t think my eyes could have taken anymore colour, they were so wide open with wonder.
My last day of this little adventure had arrived. I was shattered. No idea why I took a book with me, I had hoped to read it. I had no time, I don’t think I could have fit anything else into the trip. For a relaxing last day I decided to do a cooking class at the amazing Michel’Angelo restaurant. My word, it was incredible. I came away absolutely buzzing having tasted such gorgeous flavours. I love cooking so of course I had to cook each dish for my family again when I got home.
Thank you so much Italy for this perfect trip. I will never forget it. Ever.
Chelsea xx
